Lightning Strikes Gwinnett Home, Displacing 12

This story has been updated to reflect 12 people were displaced by the fire.

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — Lightning hit a Lawrenceville home, displacing 12 people, as overnight storms slammed metro Atlanta.

Additionally, a firefighter was injured while tending to the blaze, the Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services said Wednesday.

The fire happened around 2 a.m. in the 1900 block of Grouse Court Northwest and came after the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning in northern Gwinnett County, fire officials said. At the time, a storm was traveling across the area at 50 mph.

Lightning hit a home during the storm, leading to a fire and an evacuation of the single-family house, fire officials said.

All but one person, a teenage son, in the home were asleep when the lightning struck above the kitchen, fire officials said. The son told first responders he saw the lightning hit and alerted everyone else in the home, fire officials said.

When first responders arrived, they found flames coming from the attic. As one firefighter entered the house, the roof collapsed and injured him, fire officials said.

He was then treated for his injuries that were not life threatening and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, fire officials said. They added the firefighter has since been released.

Once the roof faltered, firefighters left the burning home to extinguish the flames from the outside in an effort to keep it from spreading to neighboring houses, fire officials said.

The blaze was finally controlled around 2:30 a.m. The firefighter was the sole person injured, fire officials said.

The 12 people who were displaced are being helped by the American Red Cross, fire officials said.

"This incident emphasizes the importance of practicing fire escape drills in the home and having a common meeting place, such as the mailbox or a tree. Our community fire educators are available to help residents develop safe practices around the home. To speak with one of our fire educators, please call (678) 518-4845, or email (them)," fire officials said in a news release.